During the special session of the church's General Conference in St. Louis, delegates voted not to substitute the more inclusive One Church Plan for the conservative Traditional Plan, which reinforces the denomination's current prohibitions.

The swap failed by 75 votes, 374 to 449. Later Tuesday, delegates in a 438-384 vote approved the Traditional Plan as some opposed to it disrupted the meeting in protest.

The Rev. Tom Berlin, a delegate from the Virginia Conference, spoke from the General Conference stage in support of the One Church Plan, which would have allowed same-sex marriage and LGBT clergy while adding protections for churches and pastors who do not support the marriages.

"What’s being said in private conversations is that if the Traditional Plan, the majority plan, is voted in today, you will be putting a virus into the American church and it will make it very sick and it will be sick quickly," Berlin said.

Urging support for One Church Plan

The push for substitution was delivered via a minority report. It is a General Conference mechanism that supporters of the One Church Plan decided to use after the plan failed to make it out of legislative committee on Tuesday.

Berlin said passing the Traditional Plan sends a hurtful message to LGBT people in the church and their allies. He said he had already heard from some people who said they would be leaving the church if the Traditional Plan passes.

"Whether you like it or not, they feel that their church is exhibiting itself as being against gay people along with others," Berlin said. “It’s not your intention I know, but it’s what they experience and that matters."

Nancy Denardo, a delegate from the Western Pennsylvania Conference, spoke against the One Church Plan substitution and cited parts of the Bible as support for her reasoning.

"The One Church Plan does not agree with the words of our savior and in so doing deceives young persons into believing that same-gender marriage is OK with God when clearly it is not," Denardo said. "There is danger to that not only to those being deceived but the deceivers as well."

Methodists divided over LGBT issues

Before the top policy-making body of the denomination voted down the One Church Plan, the delegates, bishops and others on the floor of the special session joined together in prayer.

The United Methodist Church remains deeply divided over the denomination's ban on same-sex marriage and LGBT clergy.

This week's big meeting in St. Louis put that on full display and the outcome threatens to split the global church of more than 12 million members.

United Methodists have disagreed over their church's position that homosexuality is "incompatible with Christian teaching" and other LGBT matters for nearly 50 years. They continue to do so today.

The 864 lay and clergy delegates from around the world are voting Tuesday on how the church should move ahead.

The legislative committee on Monday advanced the Traditional Plan.

But parts of the Traditional Plan were ruled unconstitutional under church rules Tuesday by the denomination's Judicial Council. It remains to be seen how those rulings will impact the delegate's work on Tuesday.

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JJ Warren of New York embraces Julie Arms Meeks of Atlanta during protests outside the United Methodist Church's 2019 Special Session of the General Conference in St. Louis, Mo., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. The United Methodist Church faces a likely surge in defections and defiance after delegates at a crucial conference voted to strengthen bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. (AP Photo/Sid Hastings) Sid Hastings, AP

The Rev. K Karen, left, of St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church in New York joins other protesters in song and prayer outside the United Methodist Church's special session of the general conference in St. Louis, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. America's second-largest Protestant denomination faces a likely fracture as delegates at the crucial meeting move to strengthen bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. (AP Photo/Sid Hastings) Sid Hastings, AP

Protestors chant during the United Methodist Church's special session of the general conference in St. Louis, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. America's second-largest Protestant denomination faces a likely fracture as delegates at the crucial meeting move to strengthen bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. (AP Photo/Sid Hastings) Sid Hastings, AP

Adama Brown-Hathasway, left, The Rev. Dr. Jay Williams, both from Boston, and Ric Holladay of Kentucky join in prayer during the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church in St. Louis, Mo., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. America's second-largest Protestant denomination faces a likely fracture as delegates at the crucial meeting move to strengthen bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. (AP Photo/Sid Hastings) Sid Hastings, AP

Standing in prayer are delegates Kimberly Woods, from left, of Industry, Ill., Sara Isbell, of Bloomington, Ill., and Andy Adams, of Troy, Ill., at the United Methodist Church General Conference Day of Prayer, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis. (Hillary Levin/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) Hillary Levin, AP

Holly Neal, of Crossville, Tenn., sings along during the United Methodist Church General Conference Day of Prayer, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, at The Dome at America's Center. (Hillary Levin/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) Hillary Levin, AP

Bishop Mande Muyombo speaks at the United Methodist Church General Conference Day of Prayer, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis. (Hillary Levin/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) Hillary Levin, AP

Alyss Swanson, a transgender United Methodist deacon from San Jose, Calif., speaks with Bishop Samuel Quire, from Liberia, during the General Conference of the United Methodist Church on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019, in St. Louis. Bishop Quire said people can not speak freely about their sexual orientation in Liberia, unlike the way people talk openly in the United States. (J.B. Forbes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) J.B. Forbes, AP

Joy Butler, an observer from Saint John's United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas, takes a picture of a group of Methodists silently holding signs that gave a timeline of the history of the United Methodist Church during the General Conference of the United Methodist Church on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019, in St. Louis. Spokesperson Carol Scott, who said she is a queer ex-Methodist from St. Paul and St. Andrews United Methodist Church in New York, N.Y. said this was not a protest. She said it was an expression of anger, exclusion and education. "This is the spirit of the building," Scott said. "It's not on the convention floor, but out here." (J.B. Forbes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) J.B. Forbes, AP

The Rev. Joe Harris, chairman of the legislative committee, oversees the discussions and voting during the General Conference of the United Methodist Church on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019, in St. Louis. The Traditional Plan - with some amendments - won approval in the legislative committee. (J.B. Forbes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) J.B. Forbes, AP

Sara Isbell joins other delegates at the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church in St. Louis, Mo., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. America's second-largest Protestant denomination faces a likely fracture as delegates at the crucial meeting move to strengthen bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. (AP Photo/Sid Hastings) Sid Hastings, AP

Leaders from the United Methodist Church confer during the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church in St. Louis, Mo., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. America's second-largest Protestant denomination faces a likely fracture as delegates at the crucial meeting move to strengthen bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. (AP Photo/Sid Hastings) Sid Hastings, AP

The Rev. Gregory Palmer, west Ohio Bishop, speaks during the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church in St. Louis, Mo., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. America's second-largest Protestant denomination faces a likely fracture as delegates at the crucial meeting move to strengthen bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. (AP Photo/Sid Hastings) Sid Hastings, AP

Ed Rowe (left), Rebecca Wilson, Robin Hager and Jill Zundel react to the defeat of a proposal that would have allowed LGBT clergy and same-sex marriage within the United Methodist Church. The proposal was defeated at the denomination's 2019 Special Session of the General Conference in St. Louis on Feb. 26, 2019. Sid Hastings/AP

The Rev. Gary Graves, secretary of the General Conference, moderates a discussion during the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church in St. Louis, Mo., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. America's second-largest Protestant denomination faces a likely fracture as delegates at the crucial meeting move to strengthen bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. (AP Photo/Sid Hastings) Sid Hastings, AP

The Rev. Francisco Neto of Angola (center) leaves a hospitality room after being given winter clothing upon arrival Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Neto is one of many United Methodists in town to attend a special session to address homosexuality in the church. (Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) Laurie Skrivan, AP

Chantel Corrie, right, gives a thumbs up to The Rev. Manuel Andre of Angola after he and other delegates from African nations selected winter clothing in a hospitality room upon arrival Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Neto is one of many United Methodists in town to attend a special session to address homosexuality in the church. (Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) Laurie Skrivan, AP

Methodist convention volunteer Kim Mertz of Chesterfield walks with The Rev. Quelende Andriano, center, and Rev. Dr. Elvira Cazombo, both of Angola, to the check-in table, as she welcomes delegates from African nations upon arrival Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Andriano and Cazombo are among United Methodists in town to attend a special session to address homosexuality in the church. (Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) Laurie Skrivan, AP

The Rev. Joe Harris, chair of the single legislative committee of the 2019 special session of the United Methodist Church General Conference, moderates questions from delegates Feb. 25, 2019. In the background is the Rev. Betty Musau from North Katanga, vice chair. Kathleen Barry/UMNS

Mark Thompson from the Lansing Central United Methodist Church in the Michigan Conference joins other supporters of the Simple Plan by holding banners and singing before the afternoon session at the 2019 Special Session of the United Methodist General Conference. The demonstration was held inside the Dome of America's Center in St. Louis on Feb. 24. KAHTLEEN BARRY/UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE

Tennessee Conference delegate Holly Neal (front) raises her arms in praise during a day of prayer at the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. She is joined by Tennessee delegates the Revs. Stephen Handy (left) and Jacob Armstrong (standing). Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS